Laundry treating appliance with integrated dynamic balancer

ABSTRACT

A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable drum for receiving a laundry load. The rotatable drum includes a cylindrical body with an cylindrical wall, and a cover at one or both ends. The cover has an annular groove formed by a first, second, and third walls. A fourth wall extends from the second wall. A first land is secured to the third wall and a second land is secured to the fourth wall. An adjoining piece has an adjoining wall that is attached to and extends between the first and second lands. A hollow space is bounded by the adjoining wall and the second and third walls. A movable mass is disposed in the space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laundry treating appliances, such as a washing machine, may implementcycles of operation in which a drum defining a treating chamber forreceiving a laundry load is rotated at high speeds, such as a spin orwater extraction phase. For example, to extract the water from thelaundry load, the drum is typically spun at high speeds. If asufficiently large enough load imbalance is present, the laundrytreating appliance may experience undesirable vibrations and movementswhen the drum is rotated at high speeds during the spin phase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention relates to a laundry treating appliancethat includes a rotatable drum for receiving a laundry load. Therotatable drum includes a cylindrical body with a cylindrical wall abouta longitudinal axis, and a cover at one end thereof. The cover has anannular groove formed by a first wall adjacent to the cylindrical wall,a second wall spaced from the first wall, and a third wall extendingbetween the first and second walls. A fourth wall extends from thesecond wall, generally normal to the longitudinal axis. A first land issecured to the third wall, and a second land is secured to the fourthwall. An adjoining piece has one or more adjoining walls. The adjoiningwall is attached to and extends between the first and second land suchthat a hollow space is bounded by the adjoining wall and the second andthird walls. A movable mass is disposed in the space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance in the formof a washing machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a control system of the laundry treatingappliance of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view, partly in cross section, of an integrateddynamic balancer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is the cross section of the integrated dynamic balancer of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the integrated dynamic balancer of FIG. 3taken along lines V-V.

FIG. 6 is a cross section of an integrated dynamic balancer inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of an integrated dynamic balancer inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance in the form of awashing machine according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance according toa first embodiment of the invention. The laundry treating appliance maybe any appliance which performs a cycle of operation to clean orotherwise treat items placed therein, non-limiting examples of whichinclude a horizontal or vertical axis clothes washer; a combinationwashing machine and dryer; a tumbling or stationaryrefreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washingapparatus; and a revitalizing machine.

The laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 is illustrated as a washingmachine 10, which may include a structural support system comprising acabinet 12 which defines a housing within which a laundry holding systemresides. The cabinet 12 may be a housing having a chassis and/or aframe, defining an interior that encloses components typically found ina conventional washing machine, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines,controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will notbe described further herein except as necessary for a completeunderstanding of the invention.

The laundry holding system comprises a tub 14 supported within thecabinet 12 by a suitable suspension system and a rotatable drum 16provided within the tub 14, the rotatable drum 16 defining at least aportion of a laundry treating chamber 18 having a longitudinal axis 21.The longitudinal axis 21 of the rotatable drum 16 is preferablycoincident with a horizontal or non-vertical axis, though it is withinthe scope of the invention to accommodate a rotatable drum on a verticalaxis of rotation. See, for example, an embodiment of a vertical axiswashing machine according to the invention in FIG. 8. The rotatable drum16 may include a plurality of perforations 20 such that liquid may flowbetween the tub 14 and the rotatable drum 16 through the perforations20. A plurality of baffles 22 may be disposed on an inner surface of therotatable drum 16 to lift the laundry load received in the treatingchamber 18 while the rotatable drum 16 rotates. It is also within thescope of the invention for the laundry holding system to comprise only atub with the tub defining the laundry treating chamber.

The rotatable drum 16 has a front side 17 and a rear side 19. The frontside 17 includes a front cover 30 with an opening 32 therein toaccommodate receiving laundry. The rear side 19 also has a rear cover34. The covers 30, 34 thus form part of the drum 16.

The laundry holding system may further include a door 24 which may bemovably mounted to the cabinet 12 to selectively close both the tub 14and the drum 16. A bellows 26 may couple an open face of the tub 14 withthe cabinet 12, with the door 24 sealing against the bellows 26 when thedoor 24 closes the tub 14.

The washing machine 10 may further include a suspension system 28 fordynamically suspending the laundry holding system within the structuralsupport system.

The washing machine 10 may further include a liquid supply system forsupplying water to the washing machine 10 for use in treating laundryduring a cycle of operation. The liquid supply system may include asource of water, such as a household water supply 40, which may includeseparate valves 42 and 44 for controlling the flow of hot and coldwater, respectively. Water may be supplied through an inlet conduit 46directly to the tub 14 by controlling first and second divertermechanisms 48 and 50, respectively. The diverter mechanisms 48, 50 maybe a diverter valve having two outlets such that the diverter mechanisms48, 50 may selectively direct a flow of liquid to one or both of twoflow paths. Water from the household water supply 40 may flow throughthe inlet conduit 46 to the first diverter mechanism 48 which may directthe flow of liquid to a supply conduit 52. The second diverter mechanism50 on the supply conduit 52 may direct the flow of liquid to a tuboutlet conduit 54 which may be provided with a spray nozzle 56configured to spray the flow of liquid into the tub 14. In this manner,water from the household water supply 40 may be supplied directly to thetub 14.

The washing machine 10 may also be provided with a dispensing system fordispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber 18 for use intreating the laundry according to a cycle of operation. The dispensingsystem may include a dispenser 62 which may be a single use dispenser, abulk dispenser or a combination of a single use and a bulk dispenser.Non-limiting examples of suitable dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Pub.No. 2010/0000022 to Hendrickson et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled“Household Cleaning Appliance with a Dispensing System Operable Betweena Single Use Dispensing System and a Bulk Dispensing System,” U.S. Pub.No. 2010/0000024 to Hendrickson et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled“Apparatus and Method for Controlling Laundering Cycle by Sensing WashAid Concentration,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000573 to Hendrickson et al.,filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled “Apparatus and Method for ControllingConcentration of Wash Aid in Wash Liquid,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000581 toDoyle et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled “Water Flow Paths in aHousehold Cleaning Appliance with Single Use and Bulk Dispensing,” U.S.Pub. No. 2010/0000264 to Luckman et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled“Method for Converting a Household Cleaning Appliance with a Non-BulkDispensing System to a Household Cleaning Appliance with a BulkDispensing System,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000586 to Hendrickson, filedJun. 23, 2009, entitled “Household Cleaning Appliance with a SingleWater Flow Path for Both Non-Bulk and Bulk Dispensing,” and applicationSer. No. 13/093,132, filed Apr. 25, 2011, entitled “Method and Apparatusfor Dispensing Treating Chemistry in a Laundry Treating Appliance,”which are herein incorporated by reference in full.

Regardless of the type of dispenser used, the dispenser 62 may beconfigured to dispense a treating chemistry directly to the tub 14 ormixed with water from the liquid supply system through a dispensingoutlet conduit 64. The dispensing outlet conduit 64 may include adispensing nozzle 66 configured to dispense the treating chemistry intothe tub 14 in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure.For example, the dispensing nozzle 66 may be configured to dispense aflow or stream of treating chemistry into the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. anon-pressurized stream. Water may be supplied to the dispenser 62 fromthe supply conduit 52 by directing the diverter mechanism 50 to directthe flow of water to a dispensing supply conduit 68.

Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that may be dispensed bythe dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more ofthe following: water, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents,wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostaticagents, stain repellants, water repellants, energy reduction/extractionaids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers,shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinationsthereof.

The washing machine 10 may also include a recirculation and drain systemfor recirculating liquid within the laundry holding system and drainingliquid from the washing machine 10. Liquid supplied to the tub 14through tub outlet conduit 54 and/or the dispensing supply conduit 68typically enters a space between the tub 14 and the drum 16 and may flowby gravity to a sump 70 formed in part by a lower portion of the tub 14.The sump 70 may also be formed by a sump conduit 72 that may fluidlycouple the lower portion of the tub 14 to a pump 74. The pump 74 maydirect liquid to a drain conduit 76, which may drain the liquid from thewashing machine 10, or to a recirculation conduit 78, which mayterminate at a recirculation inlet 80. The recirculation inlet 80 maydirect the liquid from the recirculation conduit 78 into the drum 16.The recirculation inlet 80 may introduce the liquid into the drum 16 inany suitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing asteady flow of liquid. In this manner, liquid provided to the tub 14,with or without treating chemistry may be recirculated into the treatingchamber 18 for treating the laundry within.

The liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain system may be providedwith a heating system which may include one or more devices for heatinglaundry and/or liquid supplied to the tub 14, such as a steam generator82 and/or a sump heater 84. Liquid from the household water supply 40may be provided to the steam generator 82 through the inlet conduit 46by controlling the first diverter mechanism 48 to direct the flow ofliquid to a steam supply conduit 86. Steam generated by the steamgenerator 82 may be supplied to the tub 14 through a steam outletconduit 87. The steam generator 82 may be any suitable type of steamgenerator such as a flow through steam generator or a tank-type steamgenerator. Alternatively, the sump heater 84 may be used to generatesteam in place of or in addition to the steam generator 82. In additionor alternatively to generating steam, the steam generator 82 and/or sumpheater 84 may be used to heat the laundry and/or liquid within the tub14 as part of a cycle of operation.

Additionally, the liquid supply and recirculation and drain system maydiffer from the configuration shown in FIG. 1, such as by inclusion ofother valves, conduits, treating chemistry dispensers, sensors, such aswater level sensors and temperature sensors, and the like, to controlthe flow of liquid through the washing machine 10 and for theintroduction of more than one type of treating chemistry.

The washing machine 10 also includes a drive system for rotating thedrum 16 within the tub 14. The drive system may include a motor 88,which may be directly coupled with the rotatable drum 16 through a driveshaft 90 at or about the rear cover 34 to rotate the drum 16 about arotational axis during a cycle of operation. The motor 88 may be abrushless permanent magnet (BPM) motor having a stator 92 and a rotor94. Alternately, the motor 88 may be coupled to the drum 16 through abelt and a drive shaft to rotate the rotatable drum 16, as is known inthe art. Other motors, such as an induction motor or a permanent splitcapacitor (PSC) motor, may also be used. The motor 88 may rotate thedrum 16 at various speeds in either rotational direction.

The washing machine 10 also includes a control system for controllingthe operation of the washing machine 10 to implement one or more cyclesof operation. The control system may include a controller 96 locatedwithin the cabinet 12 and a user interface 98 that is operably coupledwith the controller 96. The user interface 98 may include one or moreknobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like forcommunicating with the user, such as to receive input and provideoutput. The user may enter different types of information including,without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycleoptions.

The controller 96 may include the machine controller and any additionalcontrollers provided for controlling any of the components of thewashing machine 10. For example, the controller 96 may include themachine controller and a motor controller. Many known types ofcontrollers may be used for the controller 96. The specific type ofcontroller is not germane to the invention. It is contemplated that thecontroller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements controlsoftware and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from eachof the various working components to effect the control software. As anexample, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI),and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, aproportional integral derivative control (PID control), may be used tocontrol the various components.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 96 may be provided with amemory 106 and a central processing unit (CPU) 102. The memory 106 maybe used for storing the control software that is executed by the CPU 102in completing a cycle of operation using the washing machine 10 and anyadditional software. Examples, without limitation, of cycles ofoperation include: wash, heavy duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash,pre-wash, refresh, rinse only, and timed wash. The memory 106 may alsobe used to store information, such as a database or table, and to storedata received from one or more components of the washing machine 10 thatmay be communicably coupled with the controller 96. The database ortable may be used to store the various operating parameters for the oneor more cycles of operation, including factory default values for theoperating parameters and any adjustments to them by the control systemor by user input.

The controller 96 may be operably coupled with one or more components ofthe washing machine 10 for communicating with and controlling theoperation of the component to complete a cycle of operation. Forexample, the controller 96 may be operably coupled with the motor 88,the pump 74, the dispenser 62, the steam generator 82 and the sumpheater 84 to control the operation of these and other components toimplement one or more of the cycles of operation.

The controller 96 may also be coupled with one or more sensors 104provided in one or more of the systems of the washing machine 10 toreceive input from the sensors, which are known in the art and not shownfor simplicity. Non-limiting examples of sensors 104 that may becommunicably coupled with the controller 96 include: a treating chambertemperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, a chemicalsensor, a position sensor and a motor torque sensor, which may be usedto determine a variety of system and laundry characteristics, such aslaundry load inertia or mass.

The laundry treating appliance 10 may also include an integrated dynamicbalancer 100 at the front 17 and/or rear 19 side of the rotatable drum16 to offset an imbalance that may occur in the treating chamber 18during rotation of the rotatable drum 16 during a cycle of operation.The term “integrated” is used to describe that the balancer 100 isintegrated with the rotatable drum 16, and in the illustratedembodiments, by way of the covers 30, 34. FIGS. 3-5 illustrate views ofan embodiment of the integrated dynamic balancer 100 in the context of afront cover 30 and its opening 32. Looking again also at FIG. 1, theintegrated dynamic balancer 100 is disposed coaxially with thelongitudinal axis 21 of the treating chamber 18. The rotatable drum 16encloses the treating chamber 18 in a cylindrical body 112 defined inpart by a cylindrical wall 114 and the front cover 30. The front cover30 is coupled to the cylindrical wall 114 at a suitable junction 116,which may include any of or any combination of crimping, welding,riveting, fastening, screwing, or the like. The front cover 30 of thedrum 16 has an annular groove 118 defined by a first wall 120, a secondwall 122 spaced from the first wall and generally parallel thereto, anda third wall 124 extending between the first and second walls. A fourthwall 126 extends from the second wall 122 to an edge 128 that definesthe opening 32. At least a portion of the fourth wall extends generallynormal to the longitudinal axis. In other words, it will be understoodthat the fourth wall need not be planar and portions thereof may vary inorientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The front cover 30 ispreferably made of metal, such as stainless steel, as is preferably thecylindrical wall 114.

The front cover 30 may have two ranks of discontinuities, one rank ofdiscontinuities 130 on the fourth wall 126, and a second rank ofdiscontinuities 132 on the third wall 124. Each rank of discontinuitiesis annular in that it is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis 21.Each rank is preferably offset from the other in that thediscontinuities of each rank do not lie on the same radius from thelongitudinal axis 21. The discontinuities may be apertures orperforations in the third and fourth walls 124, 126 as shown FIGS. 3-5.

A first land 136 extends annularly on an outer side of the third wall124 within the annular groove 118. It is secured to the third wall 124,preferably, but not necessarily, at the rank of discontinuities therein.The first land 136 may be secured to the third wall 124 by adhesion,mechanical attachment, welding or molding or any combination thereof. Asecond land 138 extends annularly on an outer side of the fourth wall126 between the second wall 122 and the edge 128. It is secured to thefourth wall 126, preferably, but not necessarily at the rank ofdiscontinuities therein. The second land 138 may be secured to thefourth wall 126 by adhesion, mechanical attachment, welding or moldingor any combination thereof. Preferably, the first and second lands 136,138 will be formed of a thermoplastic material in which case securementby adhesion would require an adhesive that bonds the plastic lands 136,138 to the metal cover 30. Alternatively, the lands 136, 138 may beformed of the same material as the cover 30 (plastic or metal), in whichcase they may be secured to the cover by welding.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mechanical securement where bosses 190 in the cover30 form the ranks of discontinuities and the lands 136, 138 are securedto the bosses, such as by snap fit. FIG. 7 illustrates anothersecurement where apertures or perforations in the cover 30 form theranks of discontinuities and fasteners extend through the apertures.Fasteners may include fasteners 192 in the form of posts or bosses towhich the lands 136, 138 may be secured by mechanical attachment or byadhesion or by welding. Fasteners 192 may also include screws, bolts,rivets and the like. It will be understood that the lands 136, 138 maybe molded to the cover 30 at the discontinuities such as by placing thecover in a mold, and injection molding the lands to and throughapertures or perforations, resulting one or more support pieces 134 onan inner side of the cover 30, e.g. a support piece for each land.

Returning to FIGS. 3-5, a single support piece 134 may be secured to thefront cover 30 of the drum 16 by injection molding. The support piece134 may comprise a moldable material such as a thermoplastic, such thatin the molding process, material flows through the ranks ofdiscontinuities 130, 132, which in this case would be apertures orperforations. The molding process produces, integrally, the first land136 extending annularly on an outer side of the third wall 124 withinthe annular groove 118, and the second land 138 extending annularly onan outer side of the fourth wall 126 between the second wall 122 and theedge 128. Between the first and second lands 136, 138 on an inner sideof the front cover 30 extends an insulating layer 140. Note that the“inner side” and “outer side” are relative to the interior and exterior,respectively, of the treating chamber 18, and do not necessarily reflectthe actual positioning of the integrated dynamic balancer 100 or awashing machine in which it may be installed during use.

An adjoining piece 142 is preferably formed of a material similar to thematerial of the first and second lands 136, 138, and has at least oneadjoining wall 143 of the balancer 100 that is attached to and extendsbetween the first and second lands 136, 138. The adjoining wall 143 ofthe balancer 100 and the second and third walls 122, 124 of the drum 16thus bound a hollow space 148. A movable mass 150 may be disposed in thespace 148. The adjoining piece 142 may be L-shaped in cross section,defined by a first adjoining wall 144 and a second adjoining wall 146.The first adjoining wall 144 may be attached to the first land 136 andthe second adjoining wall 146 may be attached to the second land 138 todefine the hollow space 148 bounded by the first and second adjoiningwalls 144, 146, and the second and third walls 122, 124 of the drum 16.Preferably the hollow space is fluid-tight to enable it to contain afluid without leaking. To this end, seals may be provided to render thespace fluid-tight. Exemplary seals may include O-rings, gaskets, or thelike.

A first chamfer 152 may be disposed on the first land 136 between theadjoining wall 143 of the balancer 100 or the first adjoining wall 144and the third wall 124 of the balancer 100 to provide a surfacetherebetween against which the mass 150 may move. Similarly, a secondchamfer 154 may be provided between the adjoining wall 143 of thebalancer 100 or the second adjoining wall 146 and the second wall 122 toprovide a surface therebetween against which the mass 150 may move. Theadjoining wall 143 or the second adjoining wall 146 may have anextending flange 156 that attaches to the second land 138 and the secondchamfer 154 may abut the adjoining wall 143 or the second wall 122 atthe extending flange 156.

The first adjoining wall 144 may include a support flange 158 extendingto the first wall 120 to resist deformation of the adjoining wall 144that might otherwise occur due to centrifugal forces acting upon thefirst adjoining wall 144 by the movable mass 150 when the rotatable drum16 rotates at high speed. The first adjoining wall 144 may also includea foot 160 for attaching to the first land 136. The foot 160 may have agroove 162 and the first land 136 may have a ridge 164 dimensioned to bereceived in the groove 162 for a snap fit engagement. Similarly, thesecond adjoining wall 146 or the extending flange 156 may have a foot166 for attaching to the second land 138. The foot 166 may have a groove168 and the second land 138 may have a ridge 170 dimensioned to bereceived in the groove 162 for a snap fit engagement. Alternatively, orin addition to, the described connection, welding processes and/oradhesives may be used to reinforce the connections between the adjoiningpiece 142 and the first and second lands 136, 138. For best results, theconnections should be adhered to form a fluid tight seal when the mass150 disposed in the space 148 includes a liquid.

The mass 150 movable along the space may include a fluid, such as water,salt water, oil or other viscous fluid, for example, and optionally oneor more moveable weights, such as spherical balls. The mass 150 maypartially fill the chamber and may distribute or collect unevenly tooffset an unbalanced condition in the rotatable drum 16.

The adjoining piece 142 and the lands 136, 138 are preferably made froman injection molded plastic material, but could be made from steel oraluminum. Other suitable materials for forming the adjoining piece 142and the lands 136, 138 and/or the support piece 134 are contemplated andmay include plastics, metals, alloys etc. The front cover 30, includingthe annular groove 118 is preferably made from metal such as steel oraluminum.

It will be understood that more than one integrated dynamic balancer 100may be disposed in a laundry treating device. For example, in ahorizontal axis washing machine, there may be a dynamic balancer device100 at both the front and rear sides 17, 19 of the rotatable drum 16. Itwill be further understood that the integration of the balancer 100 withthe drum 16 may include placing the lands 136, 138 anywhere on thecovers 30, 34 or on the cylindrical wall 114. As well, the covers 30, 34may or may not have an annular groove 118. Moreover, the adjoining wall144 may be attached directly to the drum 16 by way of the cylindricalwall 114 and/or the covers 30, 34 with or without the ranks ofdiscontinuities or the lands.

The scope of this disclosure is intended to include any of the followingfeatures and in any or all combinations or permutations thereof.

1. A laundry treating appliance with an integrated dynamic balancercomprising:

a rotatable drum for receiving a laundry load wherein the rotatable drumincludes a cylindrical body with a cylindrical wall about a longitudinalaxis, and a cover at one end thereof, the cover having an annular grooveformed by a first wall adjacent to the cylindrical wall, a second wallspaced from the first wall, a third wall extending between the first andsecond walls, and a fourth wall having at least a portion thereofextending from the second wall generally normal to the longitudinalaxis,

a first land secured to the third wall, and a second land secured to thefourth wall,

an adjoining piece having at least one adjoining wall attached to andextending between the first and second lands wherein a space is boundedby the at least one adjoining wall and the second and third walls, and

a mass disposed in the space and movable therein.

2. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the rotatable drum isrotatable relative to a vertical axis.

3. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the rotatable drum isrotatable relative to a non-vertical axis.

4. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the adjoining piece has afirst adjoining wall and a second adjoining wall arranged in an L-shapedcross section.

5. The laundry treating appliance of 4 wherein the first adjoining wallhas a support flange extending to the first wall.

6. The laundry treating appliance of 4 wherein the second adjoining wallincludes an extending flange that attaches to the second land.

7. The laundry treating appliance of 6 comprising a chamfer at theextending flange that abuts the second wall.

8. The laundry treating appliance of 6 wherein the second land has aridge and the extending flange has a groove configured to accept theridge of the second land.

9. The laundry treating appliance of 4 wherein the first land has achamfer that abuts the third wall.

10. The laundry treating appliance of 4 wherein the cover is formed ofmetal.

11. The laundry treating appliance of 4 wherein the first land has aridge or a groove and the first adjoining wall has a ridge or a grooveconfigured to accept the complementary ridge or groove of the firstland.

12. The laundry treating appliance of 4 wherein the second land has aridge and the second adjoining wall has a groove configured to acceptthe ridge of the second land.

13. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the cover comprises afront cover having an opening through which the laundry load can bereceived.

14. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the cover comprises arear cover.

15. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the mass includes atleast one of balls, viscous fluid, or water.

16. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the third wall and/orthe fourth wall have a rank of discontinuities and at least one rank ofdiscontinuities comprises a fastener at each discontinuity to which oneof the first and second lands is secured.

17. The laundry treating appliance of 16 wherein each fastener comprisesa boss.

18. The laundry treating appliance of 17 wherein each boss is stampedinto the cover.

19. The laundry treating appliance of 16 wherein each discontinuitycomprises a perforation in the cover.

20. The laundry treating appliance of 16 wherein a fastener is securedin each perforation.

21. The laundry treating appliance of 20 wherein a support piece issecured to one side of the cover and has portions that extend througheach perforation to the other side of the cover, and to which one of thefirst and second lands is secured.

22. The laundry treating appliance of 21 wherein the support pieceextends over part of the one side of the cover.

23. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein both ranks ofdiscontinuities comprise a fastener at each discontinuity to which oneof the first and second lands is secured.

24. The laundry treating appliance of 23 wherein each discontinuity is aperforation in the cover.

25. The laundry treating appliance of 24 wherein a support piece issecured to one side of the cover and has portions that extend througheach perforation at each rank to the other side of the cover, and towhich one of the first and second lands is secured.

26. The laundry treating appliance of 25 wherein the support piece hasportions that extend through each perforation at both ranks and has aninsulating layer that extends over the cover between the ranks.

27. The laundry treating appliance of 1 wherein the first and secondlands are secured to the cover by at least one of adhesion, mechanicalattachment, welding, or molding.

28. A method of manufacturing, comprising:

molding a first plastic pieces onto a cover of a washing machine baskethaving an annular groove, with the first plastic piece being at leastpartially in the annular groove;

molding a second plastic piece onto the cover of the washing machinebasket having an annular groove, with the second plastic piece being oneof at least partially in the annular groove or adjacent to the annulargroove;

inserting a third plastic piece such that the third plastic piece makescontact with the first and second plastic pieces to substantiallyenclose at least a portion of the annular groove; and

joining the third plastic piece with the first and second plastic piecesto create a substantially fluid tight chamber enclosed by the cover ofthe washing machine, the first plastic piece, the second plastic piece,and the third plastic piece.

29. A method of making an integrated dynamic balancer comprising:

attaching first and second annular lands to a cover having at least onewall, wherein the annular lands are spaced from each other;

attaching an annular adjoining piece having a adjoining wall wherein theadjoining wall has an annular foot at each end thereof; and

joining one of the annular feet to the first land and the other of theannular feet to the second land to create a substantially fluid tightspace bounded at least in part by the at least one wall and theadjoining wall.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection withcertain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that thisis by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variationand modification are possible within the scope of the forgoingdisclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A laundry treating appliance with an integrateddynamic balancer comprising: a rotatable drum for receiving a laundryload wherein the rotatable drum includes a cylindrical body with acylindrical wall about a longitudinal axis, and a cover at one endthereof, the cover having an annular groove formed by a first walladjacent to the cylindrical wall, a second wall spaced from the firstwall, a third wall extending between the first and second walls, and afourth wall having at least a portion thereof extending from the secondwall generally normal to the longitudinal axis, a first land secured tothe third wall, and a second land secured to the fourth wall, aadjoining piece having at least one adjoining wall attached to andextending between the first and second lands wherein a hollow space isbounded by the at least one adjoining wall and the second and thirdwalls, and a mass disposed in the hollow space and movable therein. 2.The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the rotatable drum isrotatable relative to a vertical axis.
 3. The laundry treating applianceof claim 1 wherein the rotatable drum is rotatable relative to anon-vertical axis.
 4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 whereinthe adjoining piece has a first adjoining wall and a second adjoiningwall arranged in an L-shaped cross section.
 5. The laundry treatingappliance of claim 4 wherein the first adjoining wall has a supportflange extending to the first wall.
 6. The laundry treating appliance ofclaim 4 wherein the second adjoining wall includes an extending flangethat attaches to the second land.
 7. The laundry treating appliance ofclaim 6 comprising a chamfer at the extending flange that abuts thesecond wall.
 8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 6 wherein thesecond land has a ridge and the extending flange has a groove configuredto accept the ridge of the second land.
 9. The laundry treatingappliance of claim 4 wherein the first land has a chamfer that abuts thethird wall.
 10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4 wherein thecover is formed of metal.
 11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4wherein the first land has one of a ridge and a groove and the firstadjoining wall has the other of a ridge and a groove configured toaccept the one of the ridge and the groove of the first land.
 12. Thelaundry treating appliance of claim 4 wherein the second land has aridge and the second adjoining wall has a groove configured to acceptthe ridge of the second land.
 13. The laundry treating appliance ofclaim 1 wherein the cover is a front cover having an opening throughwhich the laundry load can be received.
 14. The laundry treatingappliance of claim 1 wherein the cover is a rear cover.
 15. The laundrytreating appliance of claim 1 wherein the mass includes at least one ofballs, viscous fluid, or water.
 16. The laundry treating appliance ofclaim 1 wherein the third wall and the fourth wall each have a rank ofdiscontinuities and at least one rank of discontinuities comprises afastener at each discontinuity to which one of the first and secondlands is secured.
 17. The laundry treating appliance of claim 16 whereineach fastener is a boss.
 18. The laundry treating appliance of claim 17wherein each boss is stamped into the cover.
 19. The laundry treatingappliance of claim 16 wherein each discontinuity is a perforation in thecover.
 20. A method of manufacturing, comprising: molding a firstplastic pieces onto a cover of a washing machine basket having anannular groove, with the first plastic piece being at least partially inthe annular groove; molding a second plastic piece onto the cover of thewashing machine basket having an annular groove, with the second plasticpiece being one of at least partially in the annular groove or adjacentto the annular groove; inserting a third plastic piece such that thethird plastic piece makes contact with the first and second plasticpieces to substantially enclose at least a portion of the annulargroove; and joining the third plastic piece with the first and secondplastic pieces to create a substantially fluid tight chamber enclosed bythe cover of the washing machine, the first plastic piece, the secondplastic piece, and the third plastic piece.